There are trillions of microorganisms in our body, especially in our intestines, in many regions. These are called microbiota, their genetic material is called the microbiome. Intestinal microbiota develops while we are in the womb and changes with our feeding habits and contact with the environment during and after breastfeeding. The health of our intestines is important for our entire body, and they have important tasks from eliminating inflammation to our brain processes. Inflammation is the body's protective response to any harmful factor (such as infection and injury). Our white blood cells play this role in protecting our body. In case of inflammation, symptoms such as pain, swelling, inflammation, itching occur.
Many drugs and chemicals such as toxins, antibiotics, stomach drugs, alcohol, processed foods, malnutrition, insomnia, prolonged stress adversely affect our beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Wastyk et al.'s work provides important information about the effects of our gut bacteria. In a two-arm study, researchers fed a group 21.5-45 grams of fiber food per day for 17 weeks; The other group was given fermented foods such as kombucha, kefir, and yogurt. While immune status and microbiota diversity were not observed in the group receiving fiber food; In the fermented food group, interlockin-6 (an inflammatory agent) decreased and microbiome diversity increased. Fermented foods are promising for our physical and brain performance, fighting cancer and chronic diseases, and defeating infectious diseases. Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that help our bodies function in a balanced way. They play a major role in eliminating the negative effects of harmful bacteria. Bacteria with probiotic properties such as lactobacilli and bifidobacterium are also found in yogurt and cheese. These beneficial bacteria taken with fermented foods are also very important for our brain health. It has been found helpful in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in animal studies. Although adequate results were not obtained due to poor study patterns in 8 studies with humans, larger-scale studies are needed on this subject.
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